Decide which subject area in psychology you are interested in. Psychology is a broad field with many subfields. Different Ph.D. programs in psychology specialize in different areas; one university might have a strong program in clinical psychology whereas another one might place its emphasis on social psychology.
Begin researching and learning about the various programs out there that are particular to your subject interests. The easiest way to do this is via the Internet. Or visit your university's career center if you are currently a student and browse through the reference books and other resources that are available. If you're not a student, your local library should have reference books available. Also, talk to faculty and other professionals in psychology fields; ask them any questions you may have.
Read journal articles and other publications written by faculty at prospective schools, as Linda J. Hayes & Steve C. Hayes advise in their handbook, "How to Apply to Graduate School." Make contact with faculty whose research interests you and inform them if you are interested in working with them in the future.
Compile a list of universities and programs that you are interested in. Note some key points about each one of them so you remember important aspects about each school and program.
Review the list of prospective schools and programs that you compiled. Begin narrowing down the list based on considerations of size, location, and culture of the school; tuition costs; transportation options; applicant requirements; acceptance rate (level of competitiveness); research opportunities; facilities and resources available and anything else that may be important to you.
Visit as many campuses as you can; this will help you get to know the school better. Sit in on lectures, talk to students, faculty, and staff. Pick up course syllabi so you can get an idea of the work load and what is expected of you.
Make a checklist for all the application materials required for each Ph.D. program you plan on applying to. Include deadlines of when the applications are due.
Ask professors and employers to write you letters of recommendation. Provide your letter writers with all the information and materials they may need to write your letter, including self-addressed stamped envelopes.
Request transcripts, academic records, and standardized exam scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Miller Analogies Test (MAT), or GRE-Subject Test in Psychology to be sent to your prospective schools. The kind of standardized exams required by each program may vary greatly, with some not requiring them at all.
Complete your application packet by filling out the forms. This can usually be done on paper or electronically.
Write your personal statement or letter of interest/intent, as well as your Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume. Ask professors, friends, and family to read your essay and CV. Revise, edit, and finalize as needed.
Apply for financial aid, scholarships, and other forms of funding, if applicable.
Compile your application packet. Retain copies of all the materials you send to each program. Now you're ready to mail out or submit your application electronically. Don't forget to pay the application fee.
Contact all the places that you applied to and confirm that all required materials have been received.
Attend any interviews that you have been invited to. This is a good chance for you to make yourself stand out from the rest, and also a chance for you to show them something that isn't on paper.
Wait two to three months to find out whether you have been accepted or rejected from each program. Make your final decision by accepting or declining schools that have accepted you.